Switching device.



A. H. WEISS.

SWITCHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION man 050.245.1912.

1,224,51 7. l Patented lMay 1, 1917.

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A. H. WEISS.

SWITCHNG DEVIVCE. APPLICATION FILED nEc.26. 1912.

Patented May 1, 1917.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED I-I. WEISS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGINOR TO KELLOGGSWITCHBOARD AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

SWITCI-IING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1917.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. VVniss, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing in Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switching Devices,of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to electrical keys and more particularly to keysofv the muitiple type for use in connection with automobile lighting andstarting systems.

It is the object of my invention to produce an improved device of theclass described which will obviate undesirable features and embodydesirable features and advantages all in a simple,` efficient andeconomical manner, and to the accomplishment of this object and suchothers as may hereafter appear, the invention consists inthe noveldetails of-construction, parts, and combination of parts hereafterdescribed and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof in whichthe same reference characters indicate like parts throughout the severalviews, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a junction box with the cover removed andparts shown broken away to show construction of same and also showingone of the switching handles in its operated position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the junction box with the cover in placeshowing the box and cover in section.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3 of Fig. 1 looking in the directionof the arrows to show the construction of one of the three lightingswitches.

Fig. 4f is a section along the line t, 4L, of Fig. 1 looking in thedirection of the arrows .indicated thereon to show the construction ofone of the binding posts.

Fig. 5 is -a perspective view of the fuse clip and Fig. 6 is a circuitshowing the junction box connected in circuitI with the lighting andstarting system of an automobile.

Referring-now more' indetail to my invention as illustrated on sheet oneof my invention, it comprises a rectangular shaped box l which isstamped and formed out of sheet steel or any other suitable material.The box contains the lighting switches, starting button, fuse block andbinding posts 'panying drawing in which the cover 2 has the twoindentations 8 which are drilled and tapped to take the thread of thescrews Ll. The screws -l are screwed into the tapped hole of theindentations 3 until the thread of the screw passes throughit. The upperhalf' of the screw being smaller in diameter than the threaded portionand after the screw threads pass throughthe tapped hole the smallerupper diameter of the screw gives vthe screw play so in case there areslight inaccuracies in setting the studs o in the bottom of the box thescrews will have enough play to enable them to be screwed into the studs5 which are tapped to receive the screws l. The screws el are alsoplaced so that incase the cover is taken orf the screws still remain inthe cover doing away with the loss of screws. The fastening asvdescribed is simple in construction but it holds the cover tightly .inplace against jarring of the car.

A rectangular piece of insulating material 6, any kind being suitable,is placed in the bottom of the box and above that an L- shaped block ofwood 7. The rectangular piece of insulation 6 and L-shaped block of wood7 are fastened to the bottom of the box by means of the wood screws Swhich are shown dotted in Fig 2. The plate 9 is fastened to the L-shapedblock of wood 7 by means of the wood screws l0` one side of the platebeing bent up in the form of a right angle 91 which angular piece91 hasthe square holes 11 punched through it to receive the handle ends 15,16, and 17 of the switch bars 12, 13, and'lat. The handle ends extendthrough the square openings l1 of the angular portions 91 of the plate 9and through U-shaped openings 18 in the side of the box 1.

The handle ends 15,16, and 17 protrude beyond the box 1 and bend upwardabove the cover 2 so that in case any one of the switching handles whichthe operator of the car sees tit to operate is easily accessible. Theinner surfaces of the bent up portion of the switching handles areshaped so as to conform with that of the linger.

The switching handles 12, 13 and il are supported at their forward endsby the square openings 1l of the angular portion 91 of plate 9 and theends extending into the inside of the box are in the form of studs 19driven into the switching handles and supported in a block of insulation20 which has been drilled the size of the studs 19. The forwardor'outward movement in operating the handles is stopped by the shoulders21 which butt up against the angular portion 9l of the plate 9. Thebackward movement in restoring the handles is checked by the shoulders22 which butt up against the block of insulation 20.

A leaf spring l5 is clamped between the block 20 and the plate 9 bymeans of the screws 31. The portions 451 of the leaf springs 45 clampedbetween the insulating block and the plate are of one piece, the springsl5 extending from it under the handles being the separate extensions ofthe piece clamped. The free end of the spring is shaped so that it restsin a recess -l-G on the bottom of the bars 12, 13, l-l. The free end ofthe spring is under tension this necessitating a pull on the handles tooperate them. lVhen the switch bar is fully operated the free endsprings back by passing beyond the projection l7 back of shoulder' i8and holds the switching handle in its fully operated position. Inrestoring, the operator pushes the switching handle inwardly against theinitial holding pressure of the spring a5. This leaf spring holds theswitching handle in a rigid position at all times and the `jarring ofthe automobile will not in any way disturb the position thereof.

A strip of insulation 23 is mounted on each side of the handle and thena strip of copper 2li on top of each strip 23. These two pieces on eachside are held in place by the rivets 25 which pass through insulatingbushings 2G which insulate the rivets from the switching handle, andwhen the handle is in its operated position it electrically connects thetwo copper strips 24.

The contact springs 27 and 28 are set in the block of insulation 20which is slotted to receive the springs 27 and 28. A strip of insulatingmaterial 29 is then placed between the block of insulation 2O and themetal clamping strip 30. The screws 31 pass through the plate 9, theinsulation block 2O the strip 29 and screw into the metal strip 39clamping the pieces together and also holding them securely in place tothe plate 9. The free ends of the springs 27 and 28 normally rest on theinsulation strips 23 which are fastened to the switching handle and whenthe switching handle is pulled out into its operated position the freeends of the springs 27, 28 pass from the insulation strips 23 to thestrips of copper 2l as shown in F ig. l which shows the switching handlein its operated position. 1n this position the circuit is closed by thetwo strips 24 being connected by the rivets 25 but insulated from theswitching handle by the bushing 26. Thus, it may be seen that wheneverthe switching handle is pulled into its operated position there isalways a positive connection and not the least chance of the circuitbeing broken.

The plate 9 is bent up at one end to form a fastening plate 92 for thecontact springs 32, 33 which when closed by the push button B, operatethe magnetic clutch which will be explained more in detail in describingthe circuit illustrated in Fig. 6. The contact springs 32, 33 arefastened to the bent up end 92 of the plate 9 by means of screws 3iwhich screw into the plate 35, the contact springs being suitablyinsulated by a strip of insulation placed between them, the screwspassing through insulation bushings (not shown). The push button B shownin the drawing has parts in section to show the construction. The pushbutton operates the spring contacts 32, 33 and comprises the button 36having a shank 37 extending down through the metal busliing 3S. Thebushing 38 is staked into a hole drilled into the box l and has aportion extending into the box which is drilled to allow the shank 37,to pass through. The buffer 39 is of insulation and is forced into thehexagonal head of the screw 40 which is in turn threaded into the shank37, the buffer 39 insulating the button from the contact springs 32 andA fuse block C is provided comprising a block .il of insulatingmaterial. fastened to the box by means of the screws 4-2 which passthrough the bottom of the box and through the fuse block 41. A splitwasher el-iiis put over the screw between the block ell and the nut i3,the nut {1l-3 being screwed down tightly. This split washer Je-l acts asa lock for the nut and holds the fuse block securely in place preventingany loosening due to the jarring of the automobile.

I have shown a fuse 4-9 in two of the fuse clips 50, showing how theyare held in place. As illustrated in Fig. 5 the fuse holder is in theform of a clip having the upward extending arms l which are shaped toconform with the cylindrical ends of the fuse but somewhat smaller thatthe fuse itself. llVhen the fuse is put in place it forces the clipmembers 5l outwardly and when the fuse has been forced to the part toconform with it, the members 5l spring back holding the fuse securely inplace and the jarring of the automobile will not dislodge them. The bentportions 52 on the members 51 act as end stops for the fuse. rlhe clips50 are held in place on the fuse block 41 by means of the rivets 53which pass through the holes 54 of the clip 50 into the block 11. Theextending piece 55 is bent at right angles to the base of the clip tofit along the side of the fuse block to keep it from slipping or movingaround. The terminals 56 for the clips are extensions ot the clip properand notches cut in the angle portion to receive the wire to be solderedto it.

The binding posts D are intwo rows of six each all being similar inconstruction with the exception that the outer row has a connectingstrip G5 making them common to each other one binding post of the outerrow havingparts removed to show the construction of the strip G5. Theinward row has a terminal piece 6G individual to each binding post, onebinding post ot the inner row having parts removed to show the terminal66. The two rows of binding posts serve as terminals Jfor the wiring inthe interior of the box and that brought to the box from the lightingstarting circuit ot the automobile.

The wiring coming from the lighting and starting circuit of theautomobile is brought through the oblong opening 58 which extendsthrough the bottom of the box 1, the

insulation. 6, and the L-shaped block of wood 7. The binding postconsists of a threaded stud 59 extending through the block 7 and havinga square head 60 fitted into a groove 61 in the bottom of the block 7.This groove runs the width of the block and keeps the stud 59 fromtwisting around. The U-shaped piece 62 through which the stud 59 passeshas two extending legs 63 which tit in the groove 6% in the top of theblock 7. The terminals -66 of the inward row and the common strip 65 ofthe outer row t under the U-shaped piece 62. To fasten a conductor orwire to one of the terl minals, the end of the wire is placed betweenthe U-shaped piece G2 and the strip 65 or terminal 66 and the nut G7 isthen turned to securely clamp the wire between the contact surfaces ofthe U-shaped member 62 and the strip 65 or terminal 66. A split washerG8 is placed between the nut 67 and the U-shaped piece GQ. Thewasher 68acts as a lock for the nut 67 when said nut 67 is screwed down tightlyto hold the wire in the binding post. This arrangement assures gcodconnections which will not become loosened by jarring of the.automobile. The extensions G61 of the pieces'oG are the terminals forthe interior wiring of the junction box.

` rlhe holes 'G9 which extend through 'the block 7, the insulation 6 andthe bottom of the box 1 receive the screws by which the bcx is fastenedto the automobile. The fuse holders 70 which serve as holders foradditional fuses are angular in shape with the upper end formed to holdthe fuse as shown most clearly in Fig. '2. r1`he fuse holder is forcedoutwardly from the end wall of the box in placing the fuse in it andwhen it is in place the tension of the spring holder securely holds thefuse in place between the wall oil the box and the holder. The lowerends of fuse holders 70 are bent back and placed between the insulation6 and the bottom of the box 1. When the block 7 and the insulation G arescrewed to the bottom of the box by the screws 10 the lower ends of theholders 70 are held in place, the ends fitting between the insulation (3and the bottom of the box, `are bent up along the insulation 6, thussecurely holding` the clips between the insulation and the bottom of thebox.

Referring now to Fig. 6, illustrate a circuit arrangement of thejunction box and apparatus in a diagrammatic way, that is with'thejunction box operating in connection with a lighting and startingcircuit of an automobile. 1n the drawing I show the chassis 70 oit anautomobile dotted in a diagrammatic way. l place the ditl'erent lightsin their same relative position as they are located on an automobile.The head lights 71 are controlled by the switching handle 14, the saidhead lights having their terminals at the binding posts c and c1. Theside lights 72 are controlled by the switching handle 13, the said sidelights having their terminals at the binding posts (Z and d1. The taillight '73 and speedometer light 74k are controlled by the switchinghandle 12. The said tail light and speedometer ylight have theirterminalsv at the binding posts e and el. The binding posts a and al arethe terminals for the battery 75. rlhe binding posts Z) and b1 are theterminals for the horn 7 6 and the handy plug and socket 77. The button79 that controls the operation of the horn is placed in circuit withopen contacts which when closed operate the horn. rPhe clutch magnet 7Sis controlled by the contacts 32 and 33 which operate in connection withthe button B, the clutch having its terminals at binding posts f and f1.

Operation.

The operator of the automobile wishing to light the different lights ofthe automobile would pull out the switching handles 12, 13 or 1%accordingly. To light the head lights 71 the switching handle 14 wouldbe pulled out closing the circuit from the positive side of battery atbinding post a, conductor S0 through the fuse L.t9 of the head lightcircuit, the spring 27, the copper strips Q41, and rivets 25, the spring28, conductor S1, the binding post c, conductor 82, through the two headlights 71 in multiple back over conductor 83, the binding post c1, thecommon strip 65 to the grounded side of the battery 75 thus lighting thehead lights.

rlhe side lights are lighted by pulling out the switching handle 13which closes a circuit from the positive side of battery at binding posta, conductor SO, the fuse 49 of the side light circuit, the spring 27,the copper strips 24, of the switching handle 13 and the rivets 25, thespring 28, conductor S4, the binding post d, conductor 85, the two sidelights 72 in multiple back over conductor 86, the binding post (Z1, theco-mmon strip 65 to the grounded side of battery 7 5 thus lighting theside lights.

rllhe tail light and speedometer light are lighted by pulling out theswitching handle 12 which closes a circuit from the positive side ofbattery at binding post a, conductor 80, the fuse e9 of the tail lightand speedometer circuit, the spring 27, the copper strip 2l of theswitching handle l2, the rivets 25, the copper strip 24, spring 28,conductor 87, binding post c, conductor S8 through the speedometer andtail light in series, the conductor S9 to the binding post e1 the commonstrip 65 to the grounded side of battery, thus lighting the lights. Thespeedometer and tail lights are in series so as to act as a check forthe tail light. If in case of trouble in the tail and speedometercircuit, the operator of the automobile can tell if the tail light islighted because the speedometer and tail lights are in series and if thespeedometer light is not lighted the operator knows that the tail lightis also out.

The horn and handy plug and socket are in multiple in the same circuit.The horn circuit having the button 79 interposed in it which when closedoperates the horn. The operation of the horn is as follows. Uponoperation of switch 79, a circuit for the horn is closed, traced fromthe positive side of battery 75 at binding post a, conductor SO, thefuse 1-9, of that circuit, conductor 90, the binding post Z), conductor91, the closed contact of button 79 through the horn 76, conductor 92 t0the binding post .7)1, common strip 65 to the grounded side of battery.The handy plug and socket 77 is in the same circuit and is used as ahandy portable lamp. The socket 771 is fastened to the dash of theautomobile, and the plug 772 has an extension cord and a lamp attachedto it. In using, the plug 772 is inserted in the socket 77 which closesthe circuit from the positive side of battery 75, a binding post, aconductor 80, the fuse 19 of that circuit, conductor 90, the bindingpost Z), conductor 91 through the socket 771, plug 77 2, the lamp backover conductor 92 to the binding post 1 common strip 65, to the groundedside of the battery.

The clutch magnet 7 8 is controlled by the button B and the contacts 32,and 33. The

contacts 32 and 33 when closed complete a circuit from the positive sideof the battery 7 5 at binding post a, conductor 93, through the clutchmagnet 78, conductor 94, binding post j", conductor 95, contact 33,contact 32, conductor 96 to the binding post f1, the common strip G5 tothe grounded side of the battery. The magnet becomes energizedattracting its armature 97. The operator of the automobile then throwsin the starting pedal or other starting means adapted by dierentautomobiles for starting the engine.

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by United States LettersPatent is:

l. A switching device comprising a switch frame having front and rearsupporting members, an angularly shaped switch operating-bar suitablysupported by said f 'ame s0 as to prevent rotation of said bar but topermit longitudinal movement thereof, the rear extremity of said barbeing adapted to engage the rear mounting support to limit the backwardmovement of said bar, projections formed integrally with said baradapted to engage the forward mounting support to limit the forwardmovement of said bar, an. :mgularly disposed hook shaped handle portionfor said bar extending from the face of said frame, switch contactsprings suitably carried by said frame on opposite sides of said switchbar, insulating strips on said bar normally engaged by the contactingportions of said switch springs, and conducting strips also carried bysaid bar but insulated therefrom by said insulating strips and adaptedto be engaged by said switch springs t0 render the circuit through themcontinuous when the bar is operated.

2. A switching device comprising a switch frame having front and rearsupporting` members, an angularly shaped switch operating bar suitablysupported by the front member so as to prevent rotation of said bar butto permit longitudinal movement thereof, a round supporting stud driveninto said bar and extending through the rear supporting member, switchsprings suitably carried by said frame on opposite sides of said switchbar, insulating strips on said bar normally engaged by the contactingportions of said switch springs, conducting strips also carried by saidbar and adapted to be engaged by said switch springs to render thecircuit through them continuous when the bar is operated, and a hookshaped member extending from said switch bar at its forward end which isadapted to be grasped by the linger of the operator when said bar is t0be longitudinally moved to operate the switch contacts.

3. A switching device comprising a switching frame, an angular-ly shapedmovable switch operating member suitably carried by said frame,projections formed integrally with said member adapted to engage theframe to limit the forward movement of said member, a pair of strips ofinsulation and a pair of conducting strips mounted upon said switchoperating member, conducting pins connecting said pair of conductingstrips, a' pair of springs mounted upon said frame .and adapted tocooperate with said Conducting strips, a spring member secured to saidswitching :trame for yieldingly holding said operating member in itsnormal or operated position,

ALFRED H. WEISS.

Witnesses l Gr. E. MUELLER, B. OBRIEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

